Basilius von Caesarea - Omnia, quae ad nos extant, opera - 1566

Basilius of Caesarea. All that remains to us, produced by his work. In accordance with the concordant arguments distributed into five tomes, interpreted by Jan Cornarius, physician from Zwickau, and again reviewed and corrected.

Basel, Ambrosius and Aurelius Froben, 1566. Rare

5 parts in 1 volume (with continuous pagination). 4 leaves, 1006 pages, 1 additional leaf, 14 leaves. With 2 repeated woodcut printer’s marks and some woodcut initials. Folio, 30 x 20 cm.

Blind-stamped half-leather binding of the period (slightly stained, corners lightly worn, with manuscript title on the endpaper; lacking clasps; the covers made from an antiphonal parchment manuscript of the early 15th century).

VD16 B 646. Adams B 342.

Third Basel complete edition of the works by the Basel-born physician and philologist Janus Cornarius (1500–1558), whose edition of the writings of Saint Basil (330–379) appeared first in Basel in 1540. Almost all of Cornarius’ medical works and his translations of Greek authors, highly valued by learned circles, were published in Basel, where he enjoyed a close friendship with Erasmus of Rotterdam.

Basilius of Caesarea, also called Basil the Great, was one of the most important Church Fathers, especially in the Eastern Church. As a member of the “Three Cappadocians,” he decisively shaped the doctrine of the Trinity, promoted monasticism, and as bishop of Caesarea strongly advocated for social concerns and care for the poor. He was undoubtedly one of the most brilliant ecclesiastical orators of antiquity, combining “rhetorical skill with simplicity of thought and clarity of expression.” (Joh. Quasten, Patrology, vol. 3, Utrecht 1963, p. 216).

Title with a small ink monogram. In good condition except for faint brown spotting at the beginning and end; otherwise clean. A handsome and well-preserved copy in a splendid binding, consisting of two leaves from a Latin Antiphonary or Breviary (early 15th century) with Gregorian chants for the Hours. Front cover: Antiphon “Domine probasti me” for Psalm 138/139, mainly sung at Vespers. Back cover: Various antiphons, including “Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus” (Psalm 50) and “Laudate Dominum omnes gentes” (Psalm 116). The dense arrangement of several pieces on a single page is unusual.

Weight 2450 g.